Drainage-control system



July 15, 1930. Y J. M. BARRETT 1,770,831

DRAINAGE CONTROL SYSTEM I I Filed Oct. 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 15, 1930. M. BAREETT DRAINAGE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .rosnrn M; BARRETT, or ros'ronm, oHIo, ASSIGN or CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. 00320 rience that the container drained and in which the water level is to be.

Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT florets J DRAINAGE-CONTROLSYSTEM Application filed October as, 1926.

Thisinvention relates to the controlling of drainage from a container or condensation trap and has for 1ts principal ob ect the 1II1-.

provement of control over the devices now in use.

A dr-inage'control system according to my invention has among its principal objects the control of the water level in a container ortrap so that a certain quantity of water is always maintained in the container'and the outlet to the container is sealed by the water therein." Such conta ners are generally used in connection with a steam system wherein it is desired tolcollect condensate at a given point, but to do so without the loss of steam at that point. In the embodiment ot'my invention shown maintained at a certain height, accumulates not only water and steam, but also in" the" course of operation a certain amount of air in the steam space. The air may have substan'ti'ally the sametemperature as steam, but the specific heat of the airis less thanthe soeciiic heat of the steam so that if a certain quantity of air accumulates in the container, it is apt to interfere with the control an paratus and render steam is allowed to blow through with a resulting lossol steam and upset of theheat balance of thesystem. It has therefore been amongthe principal objects of my invention to construct a device which will not become airb'ound and in which theeffect of the pres- In carrying out in the drawings, I show control system with a contalner which is container against the December 7th, 1926, I

the device inoperative to: the extent that the outlet ls-unscaled and the drain naturally Serial No. 144,815.

ence of air in the container, will not hinder the operation of the device.

It is among the effect valve thermo-responsive de generator. mounted at the container by gaseous fluid incent the object objects of my in vention to a more sensitive operation of the water actuating mechanism constituting the vice, i. e.: the pressure water level of the means whichincrease the tem{ perature chllerential between the liquid and 1 act therewith."

the objectsoit my inventien I have made certain other improvements, of which will appear from'the following more detailed description. The essential.characteristics will bev summarized in the claims.

In the drawings,-Fig. 1 is a side elevation including the c pparatus compllslng my control system, thedischarge valve and the conthe line In Fig. intake 1, in the discharge pipe able water level in the container is'indic'atat L.- Connected to the container-at the point 10 I showit-he conduit ed in broken lines tainer; Fig. 2 is a view taken alongthe lines 2-2 of Fig; 1; Flg. 3

3'3 of Fig.

1, I show the container G having an an outlet 2, a discharge valve 4. The normal .desii- 15 leading through the valve 11 and connected at the-point 12 to-the discharge pipe 4 through the valved? rtlthough not shown inthe drawings, the portion of the discharge pipe 4 adjacent the point 12, may advantageously the pipe so that. the llu will be lower and in the pipe will be of greater cross section than the rest of id velocity atthat point the pressure at this point besub ect to less variation so that the water level in the conduit 15 will not be subjected to the discharge of variations by reason of fluid through the pipe 4.

The conduit 15 is shown as taking a-devious path from the point 10 am particularly conce tothe point 12, but I rned that whatever the path of the conduit,"-'it be ,so'positioned to from the point 10 to the point 12. have shown a'conduit lea ding'fromthe upper "or steam portion of the container discharge. pipe, but. I

do not care tobe speon TO THE swanrwonr C01VIPANY,- RATION or onto,

IS a section tairen along to the V cifically limited to'this construction for my device will operate acc 'ording to the principles r so of my invention, if the lower end of the conduit is so connected that the conduit will naturally drain itself. Mounted on the conduit and in the plane of the water lever L, I show the pressure generator 20. The pres sure generator is shown connected to the valve 3 by means of a conduit 21 leading to a diaphragm chamber 22 wherein is disposed a diaphragm which is associated with the valve 3 and is adapted to actuate it. The r lationship and the cooperation between the pressure generator 20 and the valve 3 is shown in the patent to Copley No. 1,193,125 issued August 1st, 1916. As shown in the patent to Copley, the pressure generator consists or" a chamber lying concentric but exterior of the conduit 15 in which is enclosed an expansible fluid which is actuated in response to the relatively high temperature of steam in the conduit 15, but does not respond to the temperature of the water contained in he conduit 15. The exterior of the casing comprises the pressure generator is fitted with suitable heat radiating fins, so that the fluid therein may be cooled to cause a negative movement of the pressure actuable means as the'water level in the container rises.

The valve 3 isot a. diaphragm actuated type wherein the valve is moved in response to pressure :exertedcn the diaphragm, which pressure is generated in the said pressure generator 20. In my present invention and in a manner similar tothat disclosed in my copending application mentioned above, the valve is normallyheld open by the spring 5 and is forced to closed position by pressure exerted on the diaphragm. It will be seen therefore, that when the water levelin the container is high that the conduit 15 which is enclosed by the generator 20 will contain water which is of such temperature that the working fiuidin the generator 20 will not be expanded and the valve 3 will be opened by the spring 5.

To insure the coolness of the water in the lower portion of the conduit 15, I provide the cooler or radiator 30 better shown in Fig. 3. The cooler 30 may be of any suitable construction but for example I show .one constructed of substantially the same elements as the pressure generator 20 so that a chamber 31 is formed concentrically and exteriorly of the conduit 15. The chamber 31 is enclosed by the cylindrical portions 32 along with the expansion heads 33. The heads may be joined to the conduit 15 at the points and 36 in a suitable manner such as brazing. The exterior of the cylindrical portions 32 may be covered with suitable radiating fins 37 as shown. In the portion 7 of the conduit 15 at a point 40, which may be about the mid-portion of the radiator, I provide a suitable obstruction to prevent the direct flow of water therethrough. By means of the openings ll, I provide communication 7 the conduit from the conduit 15 to the chamber 31 so that the fluid passing along the conduit 15 passes through the openings llrinto and out of the chamber 31 in passage. In this manner all of the fluid is brought to contact with the cylindrical portion 32 and is cooled by contact with this portion by reason of the proximity of the radiating tins The radiator 30 serves the dual purpose of cooling the water and of .afiording a surge chamber or reservoir for cold water.

In the usual operation of my device with the water level in the container G along the line L, the input into the container substantially the same as the output therefrom the plane of the water level will intersect the generator 20 so that a pressure, which may we term a normal pressure, is exerted in the chamberQQ and on the diaphragm of the valve 3, so that the valve 3 is held open just enough to maintain a uniiorm discharge from the container. as the water level rises in case of an increased input into the container, the generator 20 is chilled by reason or the increase and up-fiow of cold water in the cono.uit 1:. The pressure on the diaphragm of the valve 3is reduced so that the valve opens wider to facilitate a greater. discharge. In the event of the water levelin the container falling, the water level in the conduit 15 falls, which permits a greater amount of steam to come in contact with the generating fluid in the generator so that greater pressure is exerted-on the diaphragm of the valve 3. The valve is forced. nearer the closed position and the rate of discharge is cut down so that the water seal is maintained. It will be seen that in normal operation, that the water level is maintained within certain restricted limits and the outlet of the container. is completely sealed.

There are, however, certain abnormal conditions with which it is one of the objects of my present invention'to cope. 7 As mentioned above, I have found that in tr e operation and use of a condensation trap that a certain amount of air accumulates within the trap. After air has accumulated down to the point 10, it will be seen that the upper partoi' the conduit 15 will be filled with more of less dry air. 1V hen the upper portion of 15 is filled with air and as the usual and normal condensation of steam in the conduit 15 takes place, it happens that the whole of the conduit 15 is filled with air except that portion which is filled with water. In such an event, since the air has a-much lower specific heat than steam or at least has a lesser conductivity, the generator 20 is chilled to such an extent that the valve 3 is allowed to become wide open. l fith the valve 3 wide open, the water rushes from the con tainer, the seal is broken and the steam is allowed to pass freely from the intalre 1 out to the outlet 2. A deviceacco-rding to my copending application and in all prior devices, this condition would continue until by manual adjustment the air were removed from the conduit 15 and a new supply of condensate accumulated before the device would again be operative. It will also be seen that in starting to use an empty condensation tra a similar problem presents itself.

rflccording to my invention however, and by disposition of the generator and the conduit 15, I am assured that in starting to use the trap or in the event of an accumulation of air as described above, that as soon as the water is blown out of the trap, a free communication will be afforded between the points 10 and 12 so that air in the conduit 15 will also be blown out through the discharge pipe and the valve 3 by steam entering at the point 10. The hot steam flowing through the conduit 15 will heat the generator 20 and cause the working fluid to exert a pressure on thediaphragm of the valve 3 so that the valve will be forced to a closed position and will remain closed until the water level in the container and in the conduit 15 rises to a point where the valve may be normally operated as described above. 7 The water will be the water of condensation formed within or entering the trap and may be of a rather high temperature.

In fact the temperature of the newly formed condensate may be such that the generator is not properly chilled. Thus I provide the radiator 30 associated with the conduit 15 as shown. By reason of the radiator 30 the water forming in the conduit 15 will first accumulate below the radiator and then will be forced upwardly through the radiator and cooled in its passage, so that the water rising in the conduit 15 from the radiator to the generator 20 will be of a low temperature even if'the condensate forming in the system is quite hot. It is by this temperature differential that I am able to chill the working fluid in the generator 20, so that the valve 3 may be opened when the water level rises above the normal.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a simple and rugged control system for a condensation trap which is en tirely self-operative and even self-starting. A device constructed according to my invention will automatically free itself of air binding, and will further bring itself into opera tion either from a cold starting or from any condition where the water broken.

I claim:

1. A drainage control system adapted to maintain a water seal over the outlet of a container to be drained, comprising in combination a container, a discharge pipe for said container, a valve in said pipe, a conseal has been duit leading fromthe upper portion of said container to said discharge pipe at a point beresponsive to the tween the outlet of the container and said valve, and thermo-respons'ive means associated'with said conduit for closing said valve when the outlet of the container is unsealed and steam is present in the container.

2. A drainage control system adapted to maintain a water seal over the outlet of a container to be drained, comprising in combination a container, a discharge pipe for said container, a valve in said pipe, a conduit positioned to drain from the upper portion of said container to said discharge pipe at a point between the outlet of the container and said valve, and thermo-responsive means associated with said conduit for actuating said valve and being responsive to change in water level in said container'and also actuated to close said valve when the outlet of the container is unsealed and steam is present in the container.

8. A condensation trap having an outlet wherein is maintained a water seal over said outlet, a discharge pipe, a valve in said pipe, thermo-responsive means for closing said valve and being active in response to the tempcrature or heat content of fluid in contact therewith, means for conducting to said thermo-responsive means fluid having a high temperature Whenthe outlet of the container is unsealed and means associated with said last named means for cooling the fluid which is about to be raised into contact with said thermo-responsive means as the water in the container rises.

' 4;. In a condensation trap the combination of a container having an outlet and normally having a water seal over said outlet, a discharge pipe, a valve in said pipe, pressure generator means for actuating said valve and being actuated according to the temperature J. of fluid in contact therewith, means for conducting to' said pressure generator means, fluid having a high temperature when the outlet of the container is unsealed and means associated with said'last named means for cooling the fluid which. is about to be brought into contact with said pressure generator means as the water in the container rises.

5. A steam condensation trap comprising in combination, a container, a discharge pipe therefor, a branch pipe leading from the discharge pipe to the container, means for controlling the fluid outflow from the container and means associated with said branch pipe outflow of steam from the trap for actuating said first named means.

In combination a container for water and steam, means for maintaining a water seal over the outlet of the container, said means including a valve for controlling the outflow fromthe container, a conduit'leach ing' from the steam space of the container to the discharge pipe between said valve and the outlet, pressure generator means associated with the conduit at the point ofnormal water level therein and adapted to close said valve upon contact with steam in the conduit, said conduit being positioned to drain into the discharge pipe so that when the water seal is broken, steam flows from the container to the discharge pipe through the conduit and heats the pressure generator to close the valve.

7. In a steam trap, the combination of a container having an outlet, a discharge pipe leading therefrom, a valve in said pipe, a conduit directly communicating from the upper portion of the container to the discharge pipe, pressure generator means associated with the conduit at the normal water level, radiating and storage means associated with the conduit between the said pressure generator means and the discharge pipe, means connecting said pressure generator means to said valve for closing said valve when the heat content of the fluid in the conduit is raised in response to a low water level and means in cluding said radiating and storage means for chilling the fluid which rises in the conduit when the water level rises.

8. A. container for water and steam, a pipe for conducting fluid therefrom, a valve in said pipe, a cooling and storage chamber incorporated in said pipe and thermo-responsive means associated with said pipe for actuating said valve.

9. A steam trap having two outlets, one outlet positioned near the top of the trap, the other outlet at the bottom of the trap, a common discharge pipe, a conduit leading from the upper outlet and draining into the discharge pipe, a valve for controlling the flow through the discharge pipe, thermal means associated with the conduit for actuating said valve and adapted to close the valve when heated by contact with steam, whereby steam flows from the trap through said conduit and heats the thermal means to stop the outflow.

10. The combination of a container for water and steam, a discharge pipe therefor, a valve in said pipe, a conduit leading from the steam space of the container to the discharge pipe at a point between the container and the valve, and means associated with the said conduit for actuating said valve.

11. In combination, a container for water and steam, a pressure actuable water valve for said container, fluid conducting means spanning the water level of the container and inclined to the plane thereof and communieating with the steam and water spaces of the container, a pressure generator connected to said valve comprising a closed chamber containing an expansible fluid and mounted on said means at the water level and inclined to intersect the plane of normal water level, heat dissipating means comprising parts separate from and associated with said fluid conducting means below and adjacent said generator for reducing the temperature of fluid in said conducting means to the lowest degree at a point below and as near as possible the generator, and heat dissipating means associated with said generator whereby the heat of water in said conducting means at and immediately below the generator is dissipated through said heat dissipating means.

12. In combination, a container for water and steam, a pressure actuable water valve therefor, fluid conducting means spanning the water level of the container and connected to the steam and water spaces thereof and being inclined to the plane of the water level at least near the water level, a fluid pressure generator :tor actuating said valve and having afluid connection therewith and comprising a closed vessel surrounding said conducting means at the water level and containing an eXpansible fluid adapted to be put under pressure when heated by steam in said fluid conducting means, heat dissipating means for said vessel comprising radiating fins mounted on the exterior thereof, and heat dissipating means for the said fluid conducting means provided to chill the water therein below the generator comprising radiating fins arranged exteriorly of said fluid conducting means below the water level and adjacent the generator.

13. In combination, a container for water and steam, a pressure actuable water valve therefor, fluid conducting means spanning the water level of the container and connected to the steam and water spaces thereof, a fluid pressure generator for actuating said valve and having a fluid connection therewith and comprising a closed vessel intersecting the planeof the water level and being inclined thereto and surrounding said fluid conducting means and containing an expansible fluid adapted to be put under pressure when heated by steam in said fluid conducting means, heat dissipating means for said vessel comprising radiating fins mounted on the exterior thereof, and heat dissipating and water storage means in the said fluid conducting means provided to chill and store the water therein below the generator comprising a chamber having radiating fins arranged exterior-1y thereof below the water level and adjacent the generator.

14. In combination, a container for water and steam, a water valve therefor, fluid conducting means spanning the water level of the container and connected to the steam and water spaces thereof and being inclined to the plane of the water level at the water level, a thermo-responsive device for actuatsaid valve associated with said means at the water level and inclined to the plane thereof, heat dissipating means for said device, and heat dissipating means for the said fluid conducting means comprising parts separate from and associated therewith as near as possible to said device and provided to chill the water therein below said device, whereby a maximum temperature difference is maintained between the steam and .water in contact with said device.

15; The combination of a container for water and steam, fluid conducting means for leading fluid therefrom and through all of which. means steam flows directly out of said container at least during part of the initial period of operation before water is collected therein, a valve in said means for controlling the outflow of fluid from said container, thermo-responsive means associated with said fluid conducting means and positioned adjacent the path of at least part of the initial outflow of steam from the container, and means connecting said thermoresponsive means with said valve for actuating said valve, said thermo-responsive means being actuated by the heat of steam adjacent thereto and said valve to close it at least when steam flows from said container through said fluid conducting means.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature. 7

JOSEPH M. BARRETT.

in turn acting upon 

